The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-11-19

place, my own health was complete
ly shattered by eleven years of inces-
SAINT public life. Prior to that time
newspaper work and my private af-
fairs had engrossed my attention. 1t
was in 1876 that l launched into
public life, and from that time till
the day left | never had vacation.
Judges could leave their benches for
six or nine months, and other public
officers could get vacations, but at
no time during the five years and
three months, when | was the King
Minister, did my duties allow of a
vacation or intermission. On sever
al occasions | asked for leave of alb
sence, but the response was, just
wait a little while till this or that
matter he settled and there was
always something new arising which
demanded attention.
HIS AMBITION.
"At one time il was my desire to
resign my position for that of Health
Commissioner, but even that am6i-
ton has left me now, and | do not
aspire to anything more than to rem
der the native Hawaiian such assis-
lance as a man in declining. years
may render by his councils and years
of experience among them.
"To this end it has been my pur-
pose to visit the hospitals Of the
United States, and by observation,
combined by earnest study, qualify
myself for the work 1t goes with
out saying, that man who had led
so active life as | have done could
not be satisfied to return to Honolulu
and bury himself in his room with
his books. AT my ranch | could do
nothing but lie around. Though
incapacitated for physical exertion,
my mind is yet clear. and in the
manner suggested / believe l could
do much, but no more than my plain
duty, because to them l owe my life.
On two different occasions have |
been snatched from a watery grave
by Hawaiians, and while my life is
spared it shall be devoted to them"
GLOW soon do you expect to re-
turn"
II have no idea. My general
health is completely shattered. L
could not walk down stairs without
assistance, yet my head. is much
clearer since DR.. Powers performed
his surgical operations. Had the
physicians in Honolulu done for me
what he has done l might have been
quite well to-day, but the effects OF
that trouble have been insidiously at
work during all these years till now
my left lung is affected. Thus L
find myself both better and worse
since leaving the islands; worse ply
sically, but better mentally. L can
now read with ease and derive much
pleasure from perusing the Exami-
ner, every word of which / read
daily, even the immense Sunday edi-
ton.
AN OPINION ABOUT THE REVOLUTION.
cit is magnificent paper. |
should like to take its artists and
some of its writers down to the Sand
wich islands. There is much there
well suited to the Examiners style
of treatment. Before leaving there
| could hardly see to read, and the
effort was distressing. This disabi-
lily extended to affairs generally,
and but for it the recent difficulties
at the islands could have been obviat-
ed. l was unable TO investigate re-
ports which came to my knowledge
and had TO let important matters
and details go by default, and now,
should Providence decree my course
to be run l am willing to abide by
that decree and my record. What
of the future there? you ask. Well,
I cannot say. OF course, hope for
the best, and good may come if those
now in authority will abide by con-
stitutional law. They have intro
duced a dangerous precedent by
such a violent substitution of one
constitution for another. 1t would
have been far wiser for them to have
accomplished their ends constitution
ally Unfortunately, all of those
now in charge of affairs are leaders,
but there is not an acknowledged
leader among them. Their only safe
ty lies in wise following of constitu-
tional law. A military despotism
would be the ruin of the islands"
"Do you anticipate anything of
that kind!"
"No, no; but that was the sort
of measure recently adopted, and |
think all are agreed that it is very
dangerous one. 1t cuts both ways.
you know"
During the interview Mr.. Gibson's
eyes often lighted with their old-time
fire, his face flushed and his whole
being became animated, the patient
rising on an upright position on the
lounge upon which he had been re-
Ginning, propped up by pillows.